FOSTER MUM PICKS UP FREE TICKETS
Over a hundred of Cumbria County Council's looked after children will enjoy a free visit to pop2thepark this Sunday thanks to a donation of tickets from organisers Carlisle City Council.
The line up for the open air concert at Bitts Park includes former Brit winners Sugababes, male quartet G4 from The X-Factor, Emmerdale's Roxanne Pallett and local bands Giant Loop of Sound and Mazzoni.
Organised and funded by Carlisle City Council, the County Council's local committee for Carlisle voted in January of this year to contribute £10,000 towards the music extravaganza. Over the last 12 months the local area committee has given over half a million pounds in grants to communities in Carlisle.
On Wednesday (2 August) foster mum Judith Scott will be collecting the free tickets for her two foster children from the Leader of Carlisle City Council, Councillor Mike Mitchelson.
Judith, from Harraby in Carlisle has been a foster mum for over 10 years and has fostered 12 young people during that time. Her current foster children are 13 and 15 years old. She said:
"They are really looking forward to the event. They both say they are especially keen to see Sugababes perform, but I think one of them is also getting quietly excited about seeing G4!"
Councillor Cyril Weber is the chair of the County Council's Carlisle Local Committee. He said:
"We're happy to be a sponsor of this major event for the city. It is especially pleasing that we have been able to work with the city council to give looked after children in Carlisle the opportunity to enjoy what promises to be a great day of music, and the city's very own 'Top of the Pops!"
Councillor Mike Mitchelson, the Leader of Carlisle City Council, said:
"pop2the park is one of Cumbria's premier pop concerts and we want to give all local families the opportunity to join in the fun.
"With under a week to go now the build up to Cumbria's premier pop concert starts now. This year a dozen top class acts will be taking the stage and to ensure they all get a chance to enjoy their time in the limelight we've extended the concert by an hour and a half - even more reason to join in the fun."
Tickets for pop2thepark are still available by phoning the Sands Centre box office on 01228 625222, online, by visiting www.tehsandscentre.co.uk, or in person at the Sands Centre, Carlisle's Tourist Information Centre, the News & Staff offices in Whitehaven and Workington and the North West Evening Mail office in Barrow.
Tickets are £12.50 if bought before the event and £15 on the day. Children aged five or under go free. No other concessions are available. The concert is scheduled to take place in Bitts Park, Carlisle. Entry to the park will be available from noon, Carlisle favourites Giant Loop of Sound will kick off the concert at 12.30pm. The concert will run until 6pm.
Notes for Editors
Funded & organised by Carlisle City Council, the event is in partnership with the News & Star, CFM, Carlisle Leisure Limited and sponsored by Cumbria County Council, Stobarts, the Carlisle and Eden Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnership and Kingmoor Park.
There are 483 children ‘Looked-After’ by Cumbria County Council Children’s Services, 360 of which are in foster care (75%).
The Fostering Service supports 223 ‘in-house’ foster carers who look after 290 children in foster care.